The Bar Towel

Rubaiyat

It seems that the ever so politically correct LCBO received complaints (maybe one complaint, we can't even get a clear answer) about the name.

The complaint was that the name was not sufficiently sensitive to people who had Delirium Tremens. So ... the LCBO has taken it off the shelves.

It will be available for licensees sold from "the back room" like contraband. Perhaps it will be available to non-licensees who ask for it - we don't know.

Meantime, they are trying to sell some of the extra cases to less sensitive provinces, such as Quebec and Manitoba.

A few years ago, Delirium Tremens was banned in some states below the border, but after legal challenges, the ban was lifted. It is now available in the U.S., many countries of Europe, Japan, and Taiwan.

The name Delirium Tremens, while admittedly provocative, is in the tratition of Belgian "wicked beers". We wonder if the LCBO is less than sensitive to Belgian sensibilities.

We also wonder what people who have suffered from Delirium Tremens would be doing in a liquor store.

We also wonder what people who suffer from weight difficulties think of FAT BASTARD, the wine. There's others ...

Over and out.

GregClow · Joined: 10 Aug 2001 Posts: 2930 Location: Parkdale

Does this mean that I get to complain to the LCBO if they ever start selling Arrogant Bastard?

esprit · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:43 pm Post subject:

Paul, I was offered this beer many years ago and did in fact contact the LLBO at the time and they told me that they would not approve the product for sale in Ontario because of the name so I never pursued it. These are the same people who told me that they would not accept Rogue Santa's Private Reserve and who, after we already had a P.O., cancelled an order of Pike Auld Lang Syne because the old man with a beard on the label (representing the old year) looked too much like Santa Claus even though he had no hat and the beer was not an Xmas beer but a New Year's beer.
Frankly, I was surprised to see that they had purchased Delerium from you but, having done so, it's quite unbelievable that they have pulled it. About 3 or 4 years ago I filed complaints about a number of products including Old Nick's Egg Nog and some Canadian Club which came in a canister with a Nutcracker toy soldier on it. At the time my complaints were acknowleged but they would not pull the products but simply did not order them the following year.

esprit · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:08 pm Post subject:

....also Paul, don't you mean illegitimate children who suffer from weight difficulties?

JerCraigs · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1859 Location: North York

"Welcome to Ontario. You don't belong here."

Seriously, who do we write about this? This plus rejecting Cantillon is flippin rediculous. I expect the only reason this kind of thing goes on is because the only people with enough financial clout to fight it are the big brewers and they don't make products with interesting names.

Can we have Canadian rejected for unfairly slandering all Canadian beer as generic macro lager? We can include tshirts and other collectibles that appeal to young sports fans but not something that might offend someone. Don't buy it then.

Andicus · Joined: 08 Feb 2002 Posts: 606 Location: St. Catharines

Unbelievable. The LCBO has out-stupided themselves. Yeah, it's probably not a word, but I think it makes the point anyway.

pootz · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 1874

Rubaiyat · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject:

Peter,

I hear you -- I was somewhat surprised .. shall we say pleasantly surprised .. when they bought it myself BUT .. they DID buy it. THEY chose it -- end of story.

Now -- some WHO KNOWS WHO one has complained and .. they've pulled it. Frankly they are somewhat apologetic about it and they are certainly not blaming us about it .. my post was more or less a comment on the underlying and inherent flaw with the GOVERNMENT being involved in alcohol SALES. That's all. If this where a private retailer and it was not BANNED by the government (which it isn't/wasn't), i'd just tell that person to please get out of my store. Joke stores exist. Head Shops exist. It's personal choice.

Having said that ... anyone who does want to buy it PLEASE go to the back room and ask for it and you should get it. And please continue to ask for it at your favorite wicked beer whistle-wetting place ...

Cheers,

Paul

pootz · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 1874

Andicus · Joined: 08 Feb 2002 Posts: 606 Location: St. Catharines

FWIW, there was some DT "On Hold" at one of my local LCBO's today. They would not sell it to me.

pootz · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 1874

mustang3 · Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 79

Come on out to Ajax. We have 3 cases and nobody has told me not to sell it. I gave Al a six pack a couple days ago, but he had to promise not to offend anybody on his way to the register

It really is ridiculous that they pulled it for what is probably one complaint. It's in the back, but ask for it. And a word of advice, ask the employees with the white name tags. They're probably the xmas help and won't know that it's been pulled.

TerryW · Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 51

Hmm. I scored a half dozen bottles in Mississauga yesterday. Sitting on the shelf for all. Still a half dozen there when I left. Kind of a shame to have to go through all this nonsense for a beer.

Andicus · Joined: 08 Feb 2002 Posts: 606 Location: St. Catharines

Rubaiyat · Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for your support everyone .. !!

FYI, Category Management (i.e. people who run the show at head office) HAVE agreed that it can be sold to willing buyers "out of the back" so to speak .. so, IF you do in fact come across a store which DOES have it (i.e. admits to having it) but that REFUSES to sell it .. let me know which store it is -- or call Category Management and have them "approve" release.

Sheesh ...

If I don't "speak" to you before this weekend ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS and thanks for all your support all year round.

GREAT jugs available still for those looking for one of the world's most famous pilseners from the land of tulips and cheese ..